I’ve been to Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa in Thompsonville, southwest of Traverse City, a handful of times over the years.
But I’ve never seen this northern Michigan resort sparkle like a jewel in the snow until last week. It was a new experience for me. I’m used to reveling in sun-drenched fairways on the resort’s two courses.
Seeing the ski trails was an eye-opener. It made me wonder why did I ever retire from skiing in the first place?
It was easy to see why Crystal Mountain has been named the No. 1 ski resort in the Midwest by a respected ski magazine. There were so many entertainment options my family ran out of time to try everything.
My children – ages 7 and 5 – are new to skiing. Thankfully the resort caters to all ages. The “bunny hill” is separate from the main ski area, allowing beginners plenty of time and space to hone their budding skills. My kids found the Crystal Carpet, a sort of hands-free escalator that people ride to the top of the hill, much friendlier to use than a tow rope. Riding the Crystal Clipper, the fastest ski lift in the Midwest, was a little too much stimulation for my children on the main hill. As they get older, though, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the chance to get a few more runs in because of its speed.
By the end of our three-day trip, my 7-year-old skied well enough to conquer a “more difficult” blue run and my 5-year-old amazingly survived the easiest green run all by herself. They can’t wait to go again. They even tried ice skating for the first time by renting a pair of double-bladed skates.
We spent our time off the hill lounging in our spacious, 3-bedroom Cottage at Water’s Edge watching the Winter Olympics snuggled up to a warm fireplace and sitting in the nearby outdoor hot tub. One night, we rode a horse-carriage with several other families through the darkness before ending with a bonfire, roasted marsh mellows and hot chocolate. A chance to go dog-sledding or swimming in the brand new fitness center will just have to wait for next time.
Over the years, I’ve skied on some bigger mountains – Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass in Washington and Big Sky in Montana and Searchmont Resort in Canada – but I kind of lost touch with the sport. This visit made me realize that we don’t have to fly to Florida for winter break to have fun with the family. I’ll probably always be a golfer at heart who loves the sun, but thanks to Crystal Mountain, I now realize even winter can be a hoot.
But I’ve never seen this northern Michigan resort sparkle like a jewel in the snow until last week. It was a new experience for me. I’m used to reveling in sun-drenched fairways on the resort’s two courses.
Seeing the ski trails was an eye-opener. It made me wonder why did I ever retire from skiing in the first place?
It was easy to see why Crystal Mountain has been named the No. 1 ski resort in the Midwest by a respected ski magazine. There were so many entertainment options my family ran out of time to try everything.
My children – ages 7 and 5 – are new to skiing. Thankfully the resort caters to all ages. The “bunny hill” is separate from the main ski area, allowing beginners plenty of time and space to hone their budding skills. My kids found the Crystal Carpet, a sort of hands-free escalator that people ride to the top of the hill, much friendlier to use than a tow rope. Riding the Crystal Clipper, the fastest ski lift in the Midwest, was a little too much stimulation for my children on the main hill. As they get older, though, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the chance to get a few more runs in because of its speed.
By the end of our three-day trip, my 7-year-old skied well enough to conquer a “more difficult” blue run and my 5-year-old amazingly survived the easiest green run all by herself. They can’t wait to go again. They even tried ice skating for the first time by renting a pair of double-bladed skates.
We spent our time off the hill lounging in our spacious, 3-bedroom Cottage at Water’s Edge watching the Winter Olympics snuggled up to a warm fireplace and sitting in the nearby outdoor hot tub. One night, we rode a horse-carriage with several other families through the darkness before ending with a bonfire, roasted marsh mellows and hot chocolate. A chance to go dog-sledding or swimming in the brand new fitness center will just have to wait for next time.
Over the years, I’ve skied on some bigger mountains – Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass in Washington and Big Sky in Montana and Searchmont Resort in Canada – but I kind of lost touch with the sport. This visit made me realize that we don’t have to fly to Florida for winter break to have fun with the family. I’ll probably always be a golfer at heart who loves the sun, but thanks to Crystal Mountain, I now realize even winter can be a hoot.
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